The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-06-01

Yct the fact still remains that there are
las 900 who lie in unknown graves, fol
instance the cemetery at Salisbury, N,
O., has 10, 1876 graves, 10, 029 are unknown,
leaving but 81 that are known; Ander'
sonville, Ca, has IS, TIA of which IL, SOC
are unknown, and so might enumerate
until we would find that 145 900 lie il
unknown graves.
"Alas how many lie
Beneath Southern sky,
Who never heard the fearful fight was done,
And all they fought for won.
Sweeter think their Sleep,
More peaceful and mo re deep,
Could they but know their wounds were not In
yain.'
Shall we not bear them IN devoted re-
membrance to-day and in our prayers
commend them once more to the mercy oil
our Heavenly Father, SO that when the
last great trumpet shall sound, they,
with ms, may be enrolled under the flag
Of our Christ, the Great Captain of ouI
Salvation, to dwell eternally 10 the
heavens.
S Are there any here to-day who would
also ask, what is this Grand Army of the
Republics If so let me say to them that it
is composed of the survivors OF those who
on land aud sea went to the defense OF
our country in the time of her greatest
need. leaving the pillow in the fiirrow and
the cows to come home alone, dropping
the tools upon the bench, the pen on the
desk and closing up the books of the coll
lege and school, bid good bye to wife aud
children, to mother and father, TO sister
and brother, and went forth to fight that
our country should remain one and in
misunderstanding "The Union forever,
hurrah, hurrah. That not one star
should be taken from that flag. By the
points of our bayonets do we swear IL.
Did they return? Yes and no. These
men before you as well as the many
thousands who to-day have assembled 10
different parts of our land to perform
these same beautiful ceremonies, came
back, but the 300, 600 who paid full sacri-
flee with their lives and now lie In every
church-yard In the land, never came back
or coming, sank and died, aud since then
300, 600 more have been added to their
numbers and quietly laid to rest, having
died of disease contracted In that service,
of wounds received fighting the battles to
maintain the same principles for which
our forefathers, who brought this country
to life, fought and died to establish.
Still carrying out those same principles
the Grand Army of the Republic came in
to existance, its motto "Fra ternity.
Charity and Loyalty These are the
links of the chain that binds its members
together, asking not their religion, poll
tics, color or nationality, only that they
have served this country in her time OF
need and received an honorable discharge
and that remaining members they will
exercise Fraternity Of feeling and inter-
est towards all good and true soldiers and
sailors of the Republic, that true Charity
towards our manned and helpless COM
rades and the widows and orphans of
those whose graves we decorate to-day,
and that Loyalty to our flag and country,
that shall teach those who must soon
take our place, to be ready at all times to
rush to the defence of one and maintain
the honor of the other. "
The following little paragraph found
IN one of my morning papers Of last week.
Il is very short, only two lines, yet con-
fess It gave me more pain and anxious
thought than all else the paper contained.
II il this:
Decoration Day is said to be losing
its hold upon popular favor In New York. y
Can 1t be possible that this fitting as
well as touching service is losing favor Z?
That 1t Is no longer POPULAR to honor
our dead our country's dead Are they
to be forgotten while some of their sur
viyors still live, who with them saved the
country? | think not. The loyal hearts of
this country will still prove their loyalty
and ever cherish in grateful remembrance
the soldiers who sacrificed all, even life
that the country of the free should not
perish, and will in long years to come
join in this beautiful service of honorinp
the country's dead.
doubt not, but that In the cosmopoli-
tan life of the City of New York, there
are some mercenarY hearts that never did
beat In uHison with the loyal will OF the
p nple during "those days that tried
mems souls, that mover did care for our
success, or ever was interested Ia any OF
the sacrifi" of the Union soldier, who
are ready to day to turn traitor to the
land that protects them and gives them
life, who never could be made enthusiasts
tic over the day set apart as memorial
for those who fell in that holy cause, and
are therefore ready to declare that It is
time this waste of time and money to
put q few flowers on some soldiers grave
was storped 1t is no longer popular,
that they might have one more day TO
horde in their gains, but Throughout this
broad land the day grows dearer and
dearer and their objections and indiffer-
ence are like clouds Of summer shower.
that are soon blown over and the sun
shines all the brighter. Therefore to YOU
my friends may this day be ever cherish
ed and the lessons 1t teaches, sink deep
into your hearts, for to you must descend
it's proper observance, and the perform
ance of this beautiful and pleasant duty,
as we too will soon be laid to rest Each
year our numbers decrease and the labors
of these remaining must necessarily In
crease and they must call upon you to as
sist. viii you hold back ? l think not.